Transparency and Accountability

By Jane B. Parker

Monterey County is a world-class place, yet some of our public entities have tended to do business in ways that are not yet world class. That is changing.....

For years, watchdog organizations and individual community members have been calling for greater responsiveness from our government entities, with little impact. Now, thanks, I believe to my efforts combined with a growing awareness on the part of the general public, the culture is changing. There is a widespread expectation of tranparency from the County, FORA, the Water Resources Agency, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital District and local cities.

This is a healthy direction, and there is much more to be done. I am committed to establishing internal systems that support and encourage hardworking, creative staff -- and systems of external communication to make it easy for the public to understand and participate in YOUR governments' decision-making.